Six Years After Bolton Man's Murder, Family Awaits Justice

Cameron Faling's girlfriend, Averil Beliveau, was charged with his murder but remains incompetent to stand trial.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:13am

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Six years after Cameron Faling's murder in Bolton, Vermont, his family is still waiting for justice. Faling was killed in March 2020 by his girlfriend, Averil Beliveau, who has been found incompetent to stand trial due to mental illness. The Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office is unwilling to dismiss the charges and is waiting for Beliveau to become competent to proceed with the prosecution, but the case remains stalled.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges the criminal justice system faces when dealing with defendants who are found incompetent to stand trial due to mental illness. The Faling family is left in limbo, unable to find closure, as the legal process drags on indefinitely.

The details

Police say Beliveau slit Faling's throat from behind during an argument about house chores and his refusal to buy her marijuana. Evidence showed Faling was the only one with defensive wounds. Beliveau was drinking tea when police arrived and claimed self-defense, but prosecutors say the evidence does not support that. COVID-19 initially delayed court hearings, and Beliveau has since been found incompetent to stand trial, a status that remains unchanged.

  • Cameron Faling was murdered in March 2020.
  • Averil Beliveau was charged with Faling's murder in 2020.
  • It has been six years since Faling's murder.

The players

Cameron Faling

A Bolton, Vermont man who was murdered by his girlfriend in March 2020.

Averil Beliveau

The girlfriend of Cameron Faling who was charged with his murder in 2020 but has been found incompetent to stand trial due to mental illness.

Trevor Faling

The brother of Cameron Faling, who is speaking out about the family's ongoing struggle for justice.

Sarah George

The Chittenden County State's Attorney who is overseeing the case against Averil Beliveau and is unwilling to dismiss the charges despite the ongoing competency issues.

Kelly Green

The attorney for Averil Beliveau, who stated that Beliveau has suffered from major mental illness since she was a teenager and will always require care.

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What they’re saying

“We talk about him all the time… It probably hurts me more to see what it's done to them than to what it's done to me.”

— Trevor Faling, Brother of Cameron Faling

“It is incredibly frustrating. We certainly consider it an active homicide in our office, but we are not able to litigate the case.”

— Sarah George, Chittenden County State's Attorney

“Averil Beliveau has suffered from major mental illness since she was a teenager and has been treated in institutional settings since March 2020. She receives excellent care and will always require care.”

— Kelly Green, Attorney for Averil Beliveau

What’s next

A status conference is planned for later this month, but the case is likely to remain stalled until Averil Beliveau is found competent to stand trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges the criminal justice system faces when dealing with defendants who are found incompetent to stand trial due to mental illness. The Faling family is left in limbo, unable to find closure, as the legal process drags on indefinitely, raising questions about the need for reforms to better support victims' families in such situations.